Kuwait City: At least 30 militants were killed in three separate operations by security forces in Pakistan's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province bordering Afghanistan, said military on Saturday. According to Kuwait News Agency, acting on intelligence tips, the security forces conducted an operation in Lakki Marwat district and effectively engaged the militants, killing 18 of them on the spot and wounding six others, said a press release by Pakistan military's media Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR). Another intelligence-based operation was conducted in District Karak of KPK where in ensuing fire exchange eight militants were killed by the security forces. In a third encounter that took place in general Bagh, Khyber District, own troops successfully neutralized four militants, including ring leaders Aziz ur Rehman, Qari Ismail and Mukhlis, while two others received injuries. The military said that weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed militants, who remained actively involve d in numerous terrorist activities in the area against the security forces as well as killing of innocent civilians. Sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other militant found in the area as the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country. President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have commended the security forces for the successful operation against the militants. Both leaders reiterated their commitment to continue the fight against the menace of terrorism until it is completely eradicated from the country. Earlier on Thursday, at least six militants trying to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border into Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province were killed by the security forces. The operations come at a time when Pakistan has witnessed a rise in terror attacks especially in KPK and Balochistan provinces bordering Afghanistan.
